DeathSpank and The Evolving Role of Comedy in Games
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At first glance, DeathSpank appears to be Hothead Games' and Rob Gilbert's attempt to update the old LucasArts dial-a-joke adventure game formula, with lite-RPG and hack-and-slash mechanics stirred into the mix. First glances can be deceiving, however, and DeathSpank brings far more cleverness and ingenuity to the table than "Diablo meets Monkey Island" (despite Gilbert's fondness for describing his new game as exactly that).
DeathSpank extends its comedy through the player's experience, from its menu screens to its voice acting; from its art style to its quest-giving system; from its character animations to its wacky-answer puzzles. Nearly everything in DeathSpank is funny, and the comedy operates on two simultaneous levels. Characters such as Freen the Felt Salesman and Eubrick the Retired (formally known as Eubrick the Bitter, Eubrick the Undefeated, Eubrick the Bastard of Hillhaven, Sally the Stable Girl, and Eubrick the Bed Wetter) are funny creations regardless of how many games you've played.
But if you happen to be a video game veteran, DeathSpank operates as an inspired parody, sending up RPG and adventure game chestnuts left and right. Even the game's UI has a comedic personality, behaving with a mind all its own. One of my favorite DeathSpank moments accompanies a trivial event: the sudden appearance of a quest window.
